Pattern maker&#39;s tool



June 11, 1935. J E, BLUMBERG 2,004,499

PATTERN MAKERS TOOL Filed May 16, 1933 lzrwevziaf Patented June 11, 1935 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved tool for pat ern makers who are associated with the garment makers trades, whether engaged exclusively in pattern making or as tailors and dressmakers engaged part of the time in pattern making and part of thetime in making of the garments themselves.

In the making of patterns, tracing Wheels having toothed peripheries have long been employed to follow the lines of an original or master pattern, and to make other desired markings during the various operations. Furthermore, it has been common to employ scales of the graduated, ruler type and marking pencils to permit the making of the final working patterns in graduated sizes.

The conventional tracing implements ordinarily have consisted of handle portions provided with forked ends carrying the toothed wheels. In use, a pattern maker'holds a tool of this character so that its handle is disposed at an angle to the working table and necessarily has to exert a downward pressure to ensure an accurate penetration of the teeth of the wheels into the material upon which the mark is being made, as well as in many cases forcingthe teeth of the wheel to penetrate through the material of the master pattern. Accordingly tools of this type, when in frequent use, have resulted in considerable strain upon the hands and wrists of the users.

One aspect of this invention involves the arrangement of a supporting roller or element to relieve this strain upon the part of the user of such a tracing wheel. A further aspect of the invention relates to the provision of a hollow handle and an interfitting scale of improved type having a series of pointed pins thereon at properly spaced intervals to permit the ready making of patterns in accurately graduated sizes. Convenience in use thus is facilitated, since the scale normally is retained within and upon thehandle of the tracing wheel. When working with several patterns the scale may readily become misplaced and the resulting delay in locating the scale tends to increase the time required in making a series of patterns following the tracing operations which are carried on when making the master pattern. In its preferred form the present invention therefore affords a tool having a hollow handle in which the major portion of a scale is received, the scale having an outstanding flange to engage the handle about the opening or recess therein so that the scale may be readily separated from the handle when desired. The handle and scale preferably are so proportioned and arranged that the scale is received in firm engagement with'the handle but'may be readily removed therefrom by a snap motion when desired. The shank or extension of the handle preferably is. provided with adepending arm supporting a roller which may move over the surface of the pattern somewhat behind the tracing wheel itself,- which may be mounted in the conventional manner in the J forked lower end of the shank.

In the accompanying drawing: m

Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved pattern makers tool; Y

Fig. 2 is an isometric View of the scale por tion thereof; i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevational detail {of the lower part of the tool with a part of I the. scale portion broken away; H g 1 Fig.4 is a section on line 5-4 of 'Figflpand Fig. 5 is an elevational detail of. thehandle and scale portion of: the tool; showin'g the latter in the position wherein itis being removed from or inserted into the recess in the handle.

First referring to Fig. 1, it may be seen that a tool constructed in accordance with this invention may have a handle l preferably formed of metal and provided with a recess 2 having a mouth on the top of the handle. Secured to the handle i is a shank H the lower end of which is forked and provided with a pin 3 to receive a rotatable toothed whele or tracing disk 3 which may be of any conventional on desired form. At either side of the shank 2 are depending bars or extension 6 which carry a pin l upon which a supporting roller 8 is rotatably mounted.

The scale 10 of the tool is provided with a body portion H in the form of a block of metal from which a plurality of pins Hi and M may project. For example, the pins le may be spaced at uniform distances from each other, as for example distances of of an inch, while the pins Hi may be spaced at distances of ..0f an inch. Secured upon the block It is a plate. l2 providing a marginal flange for the scale which overlies the surface of the handle I surrounding the recess 2; see Fig. 4. A resilient clip 16 may be provided with an outstanding end portion normally to extend over the lower or inner end of the plate E2. The block H is so proportioned and arranged in relation to the recess 2 and the clip 16 that it may move into and out of engagement with the recess by a snap movement. When, for example; the scale I is in the position shown in Fig. 5, it is evident that the clip I6 is constraining the inner end of the scale so that it has a substantially pivotal movement, thus compelling the rear or outer lower corner of the block (seen at the right of Fig. to pass by the upper end of the opening with a snap movement; in other words, causing a slight distortion of the parts. Accordingly under normal conditions accidental dislodgment of the scale In from the remainder of the handle may be avoided, while these parts may be separated by grasping the sides of the flange or plate l2 and moving its outer end upwardly to the general position shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the lower corner or block H snaps past the end of; the handle, permitting the disengagement of these parts;

A tool of this character may be employed for tracing in the conventional manner, but the provision of the supporting element 'or roller '8 in effect afiords bracing means aiding the P pe an l o ition n o t handle in lation to, the plane of the bench upon which the pattern is located. Thus undue strain upon the wrist or hand of the user is avoided. In practice the handle therefore is normally held in the position shown in; Fig. 1 and the tracing wheel moved over the pattern in the conventional manner; j

' 'When it is desiredto use the scale It, it may 7 be separated from the handle, as has been described. The scale is then held by the pattern maker so that the plate IE2 is substantially horizontal and oneof the pins I or M engages the edge of 'a pattern, the adjoining pins making marks accurately to indicate the positioning of the edges of patterns oi successive larger sizes. The pins, with their sharp points, afford accurate marks indicating the locations of the edges of patterns of larger size, which may then be cut out.

A scale ofthistype is'more convenient than the conventional graduated scale and permits more accurate results. Since it is not necessary to scrutinize the graduations upon a graduated scale closely, there is little possibility of making a mistake as to the spacing which is selected, and inaccuracies which result due to the thickness of pencil lines which ordinarily are employed with a graduated scale are avoided. Furthermore, it is not necessary to employ a pencil in making the markings that indicate the position of theedges, although in practice the punch marks may be connected by a pencil line more clearly to define the line of cutting after the scale It] has'been employed in a plurality of positions along the margins of the pattern.

7 It is evident that this invention affords a convenient, simple and compact tool for employmentbypattern makers, whether artisans en-- gaged-en'tirely in the preparation of patterns or dressmakers and tailors who devote only a fraction of their working time to this occupation.

I claim:

1. A tool of the class described comprising a handle,'a shank extendingfrom the handle, a tracing wheel rotatably mounted on the end of the shank, and a supporting element connected to the shank between the tracing wheel and the handle, said supporting element being arranged to cooperate with the tracing wheel and normally tending to hold the handle at a predetermined angle in relation to a plane over which the wheel is being moved.

2. A tool of the class described comprising a handle, a shank extending from the handle, a

tracing wheel rotatably mounted'upon the end of the shank, an arm extending from the shank between, the handle and the tracing wheel, and a roller mounted upon the end of the arm, said roller, cooperating with the tracing wheel in defining a normal angular position of the handle in relation. to a plane surface over which the tracing wheel is being'moved.

r JULIUS E. BLUMBERG. 

